Canadian Forces Military Police Branch
1968 - 2007

Brief History

During the early 1960's the Canadian Government was exploring the possibility of amalgamating the three Services into a single, unified command structure. Although the government publicly stated that there was full consultation with the military, the process was essentially enacted by decree. The Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force ceased to exist and became the Sea, Land, and Air Elements of the Canadian Armed Forces. Individual Corps and Services common to the three elements such as Provost, Signals, Medical, Ordnance and Chaplains were unified and designated as Branches. New uniforms (the CF Greens) were authorised, and the rank structure unified.

The Police and Intellegence units of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force were amalgamated into the Canadian Armed Forces Security and Intelligence Branch on February 1, 1968. New insignia, Branch Colours and a Branch March were approved. In the 1980's the Intelligence part of the Branch separated to become it's own service. The policing portion of the Branch was renamed the Security And Military Police Branch. In 1999, the Branch was renamed again and designated the Military Police Branch.

Organisation

The Military Police Branch comes under the direction of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS). The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM) is the head of the MP Branch, and is currently (2006) Captain (N) Steve Moore. As well as being Provost Marshal, the CFPM also excercises control over the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy. The CFPM is a member of the Canadian Association Of Chiefs Of Police. There are 5 Deputy Provost Marshals (DPM); the DPM Police, DPM Security, DPM Plans And Coordination, DPM Professional Standards, and DPM Resource Management. Currently, the MP Branch has approximately 1,200 regular members, and 500 reserve members making it one of the larger Canadian Police services.

All Canadian Forces Bases have at least an MP Section and there are MP Security Guard units at major Canadian Embassies and High Commissions around the world. Canadian MPs are serving at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium and on NATO and UN peacekeeping operations.
Regular and Reserve MPs operate out of Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan.

Military Police Authority And Powers

Prior to Unification, Canadian Service Police in general were not Peace Officers, they had the status of Specially Appointed Persons under the National Defence Act. Certain Commissioned Officers and NCOs were given limited Peace Officer powers under certain circumstances, essentially having Special Constable status.

After the October Crisis of 1970, Regular Military Police were appointed Peace Officers under the provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada. In 1985, MP status and powers were updated and clarified. The back of the current Military Police Identification Card (above) outlines the special powers granted MPs. In Canada, MPs are responsible for the enforcement of military regulations, including the National Defence Act, Code Of Service Discipline, and Defence Establishment Tresspass Regulations as well as the Criminal Code of Canada and the various Traffic Acts and Provincial Offences Acts of the Province in which they are stationed. Military Police may lay charges in civilian courts.

Reserve Military Police, while not Peace Officers as such, carry out very similar duties and are often integrated into Regular MP platoons for both training and operations.

Training

All Canadian Forces recruits undergo a common Basic Recruit Course. Upon completion of the course, recruits are posted to a school for trade training. A potential recruit for the Military Police Trade must first be a graduate of a Community College Police Foundations Course or an equivalent. Applicants undergo a battery of interviews and examinations to determine their suitability for the trade.

Military Police training is conducted initially at the Canadian Forces Military Police Acadamy (CFMPA)at CFB Borden, Ontario. The Basic Military Occupation (MOC) course (Trade Level QL3) consists of a 3 week driving course and 6 month Trade course and qualifies the MP in his or her basic trade as an MP (MOC 811). Graduates are posted on a probationary basis to an MP unit for supervised on the job training. This probationary period is of one year, during which they are carefully assessed. Non Commissioned Members have the opportunity to take Advanced MOC and specialised training. Some of the advanced and specialty courses offered are: Criminal Investigator; Officer Safety Instructor; Criminal Identification Specialist; Polygraph Examiner; Drug Investigator; and Airplane Security Specialist. Military Police also provide Close Protection for senior officers and officials, and may serve on the security staff of Canadian embassies around the world.

Commissioned Officers (MOC 81) generally enter upon graduation from the Royal Military College of Canada or other Officer Training Program, however many are commissioned from the ranks. Upon the completion of the Security Officer Course, Officers are assigned to MP Platoons or Canadian Forces Bases.

For more detailed information on Canadian Forces Military Police Recruiting,click
Here

Photo credit: Dwayne Hordij

Two CFMPA students and a Master Corporal instructor, July 2010. The instructor is wearing the standard MP OPD uniform without the soft body armor. As the students are not yet qualified MPs they are wearing the berets of their respective elements: Air and Land, with the MP cap badge. Upon graduation they will be entitled to wear the red beret and MP identifiers. Note the "blue guns" worn for training demonstrations. Also of interest is the bilingual CFMPA STUDENT brassard.

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This website is entirely the responsibility of the author and does not reflect the official opinion or policy of the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Forces Military Police Branch or any other Canadian Government agency.